🤍❤️

I like to imagine Wing being subtle in his advances toward Drift at first, both because he wants to see if Drift is interested before being obvious, and to allow Drift time to adjust in the City. Eventually, after they become closer, Wing starts laying on the flirting thick, and gets frustrated when Drift refuses to acknowledge him, or is just oblivious.

However, Drift knows about Wing flirting with him, about his obvious interest, since he first started (after all Drift didn’t survive this long in war without being observant). He wants to reciprocate Wing’s feelings, but he’s scared that if he does, he will somehow lose Wing, since in his mind that’s an inevitable scenario. If he keeps Wing at a distance, when Wing is taken from him, the pain would be less (he’s lying to himself, Drift’s feelings only grow stronger the more he suppresses them).

Or, when they finally get together, Drift refuses to leave Wing’s side for the first few weeks. Everywhere Wing goes, Drift would follow. When Wing crosses a room, two blue optics would be tracking his every move. In the night, Drift stays awake longer than Wing, looking at him and observing their berthroom for threats and dangers.

Ever since they got together, Drift has been terrified that his fears would come true. That if Wing is out of his eyesight, then Drift won’t see him again. Sure, not letting Wing out of his sight might be a little obsessive, but in his mind, it’s the only way to keep Wing safe. Wing doesn’t mind, in fact he enjoys the attention, he just wishes that it was for a different reason rather than this warranted fear that Wing wishes he could take away.

Because Drift also doesn’t know many of the City’s citizens, he becomes wary whenever they approach Wing. Years in the Decepticons with always watching his back for potential threats, or potential betrayers, had made him incredibly paranoid, that even mecha who he knows are 100% innocent set off alarms. It gets worse when they get together, Drift unwillingly thinking that every bot that approaches Wing is a threat, and he refuses to let harm come to Wing from them now that he finally has him.

Agreed!!!!

I love thinking about them as cats, both because they look like them, but also because they fit this scenario so well. Wing looking at this feral ‘con and thinking he’s the one (despite the grime, dents, and foul attitude), and then immediately bringing him home, ignoring any objections.

Like those videos of cats or other animals bringing back strays or wild life back to their owner, though this time it’s Wing bringing back a feral Drift to Dai Atlas and looking at him innocently like he did no wrong. Though I suppose it’s Drift getting dragged to the City rather than a willing stray cat… like a cat bringing home live prey for its owner and befriending it lol.

Obviously Dai Atlas wasn’t very fond of this, but eventually came around to Drift (as lots of animal stories go). Though this was mostly from Wing being happy and not him slowly learning to like him (Drift does grow on him but he’s in denial).

Drift does, eventually (after lots of patience), calm from his feral state and gets pampered until he’s also domesticated (though he’s still a little feral, it is Drift who we’re talking about).

Domesticity is probably one of my favourite ship scenarios, it’s just so… soft. Especially driftwing (because they deserve it quite frankly).

Like both of them just enjoying each others presence, getting into routines together that just seem like second nature, finding joy in the boring aspects of life…

Letting them have a sense of normality that they haven’t really had before. A foreign concept but a welcome one, you know?

For Drift especially. In his whole lifetime all he has known is pain: living on the streets, losing Gasket, unconsciously seeing himself turn into someone he’s not (Deadlock). He deserves peace more than anyone, and I think Wing would gladly give it to him.

I wanted to see Wing joking around and Drift cracking a smile for the first time in his presence (only to frown for days out of spite when Wing overreacted).

I wanted to see them both sneaking out to stargaze, their servos just shy of touching.

I wanted to see more playful sparring the closer they got, Drift slowly loosening up in Wing’s presence.

I wanted to see them hanging out because they enjoy each other’s company, sharing energon and telling stories.

I wanted to see them share a hug, to see Wing’s joyous face as he realises just how much Drift has come to trust him.

I wanted to see them standing as they normally do, but the difference is that they are standing far too close together for it to be platonic.

I wanted to see them hold hands, whether that be because they are in love or if it’s a comfort thing (I’m not picky).

After all this time, he’s finally allowed himself to open up to someone, something he hasn’t done since Gasket was taken away. He finally allowed himself to accept this peace, this gift, he was given, because he was comfortable enough, trusting enough, to do so. Only for that trust to shatter just hours after, the same time Wing’s spark was extinguished.

He watched someone he held above all else die in front of him twice. Watched his whole world crumble with his own eyes twice, powerless to stop it. That revenge, that feeling of uselessness and regret, creeping back up again, and it not leaving for years after, even when Gaskets face starts to blur and Wing’s voice becomes distorted.

I can’t imagine how he’d feel seeing Wing die, seeing the similarities in his and Gaskets death. Seeing a glimpse of Gasket as the spear pierced Wing’s spark, the dread of feeling that grief once more consuming him.

He’s just allowed himself to reframe, allowed himself to open up to Wing and love him whilst being Drift again, not Deadlock. Feeling old pain that he promised himself he would never feel again, but unexpectedly Wing happened and Drift, stupidly, opened up his spark again.

Drift going centuries without allowing himself that same trust again, not after it was broken twice. Never allowing himself to feel that sense of belonging again, because being an outsider means no friends, and no friends means no grief.

Wing being more of a morning person than Drift, so he learns how Drift likes to have his energon so he can make it before he wakes up. Drift then doing the same and Wing making such a big deal out of it and calling him sweet so much that Drift shoves the energon in his face in embarrassment. Though he would do the same the next day, and Wing mercifully chooses not to mention it, even though it makes him feel warm each time.

Turning sparring sessions into tussles and play fights until they’re both giggling messes on the floor. One of the other Knights find them cuddling and talking afterwards more often than not.

Drift training and becoming a full-fledged Knight and gaining his own Sword. Wing is so undeniably proud of him and keeps telling him so after the ceremony, until congratulating him fully when they return home.

Both of them going places together all the time, so much so that when one of them is absent it concerns anyone who knows them. Usually this absence is caused by a petty fight, but will be resolved in the same day because both of them hate being mad at the other.

Wing being big on physical affection whilst Drift prefers it to be private. Though Drift allows Wing to kiss him and hold his hands when they’re wandering the City, even if he avoids eye-contact with anyone around them afterwards. Wing teases him for it every time, but finds it sweet that he can affect Drift like that after all this time.

Drift learning new skills and hobbies now that he’s got free time, baking being one of them (a skill forgotten once energon became scarce). Wing tries to teach him how to make simple treats, which leads to messy armour and smearing excess ingredients on each other. Rarely do the treats end up being edible because they get distracted so easily, but being able to wash each other after makes up for it.

Becoming conjunxed to each other and having an official ceremony. It ends up being larger than intended because conjunxing ceremonies are rare, even in the City, and each of them gets congratulated when others see them for a few weeks after. Dai Atlas getting emotional during the ceremony and trying to hide it, though he still refuses to admit that maybe, just maybe, Drift is growing on him.

Going to dinners with Dai Atlas and Axe because now that they’re conjunxed, Wing wants Drift to know them in a more personal way, and not just as the leader and Knight. The first ends up being awkward, mainly because the majority of it is Dai Atlas glaring at Drift whilst Wing and Axe attempt to start small talk. However, Dai Atlas soon warms up and the dinners become a time to look forward to.

Come on, Drift, I thought Wing would have taught you better by now? Maybe you should start to actually learn rather than use sparring time to flirt.

Also I find it funny on Dai Atlas being strict about who and who doesn’t leave the City, because why would he then place an open stairway all the way up to the surface without any gate or anything?

He was very adamant that Drift not leave, but then leave the exits open to take?????

He either thought Drift was smart enough to not sneak out of the City (overestimating, obviously), or he trusted that Wing would keep him on a tight leash.

I mean, Deadlock was a mecha that Wing would hate. Needlessly killing, finding joy in it even, is something that Wing would have recoiled at. Deadlock killed his own soldiers (he was SIC at that) because they disagreed with him.

He’d probably be scared too, that if he told Wing of his past he’d lose him. Here, in Crystal City, Drift had been given a second chance, to start over, by a mecha who saw something in him that Drift himself didn’t. It’s a rare opportunity of redemption, of rebuilding his name and reputation. Why would he ever want to lose that?

At the beginning, Drift might’ve not cared as much about what Wing thought of him, likely only complying because he needed a way off the planet, or was cautious about what would happen to him if he didn’t.

However, the more he got close he got to Wing, the more trust was built and a relationship began between them, it became guilt more than anything, as well as the fear of losing everything, of losing Wing.

Their relationship was built on trust, a trust that Drift was actively betraying everyday he didn’t tell Wing the truth. Deep down he probably knew that Wing wouldn’t shun him, he most likely already figured that Drift wasn’t a good mech (he was a Decepticon after all), but he would be hurt at the betrayal, of waiting this long to tell him.

1. For what reason would Wing join that version of the Lost Light? What do you think his reasons for joining the crew would be?

2. How do you think his relationship with Ratchet and Drift would develop? What would their dynamics be? Especially between Ratchet and Wing. Would they have their own silly arguments and squabbles, where Wing pokes fun at something just to see Ratchet be a little grumpy cause its cute? How would this shift happen?

3. Of the crew, who would Wing make close friendships with and grow closer to?

I think that one of the only versions of Wing that would join the Lost Light is the one that has lost his own Drift, unless there is a Wing who is alone or craving adventure, then I think they’d join as well.

One of the sole reasons a Wing who has lost Drift would join is because there is an alive Drift on the Lost Light. Seeing a version of the mech he loved would throw him into a loop, and I think the thought of leaving the Circle would be a difficult choice. However, the fear of losing Drift because Wing was too cowardly (in his words) to leave with them would overwhelm him and be the turning point of his decision.

As for how Drift, Ratchet, and Wing’s relationship started, I think it would start with just Driftwing and Dratchet (Wing and Ratchet not together). At the beginning, I imagine having Drift’s attention split would be strange for both Ratchet and Wing. They wouldn’t be jealous of the other, instead I think they’d communicate, maybe with Wing approaching Ratchet to clear the strange air between them that obviously made Drift uncomfortable.

They’d start hanging out more because of this, at first wanting to at least be friends to appease Drift and make him happy, but eventually they’d start hanging out on their own together because they liked each others company. Seeing the shift in their once strained dynamic would make Drift overjoyed, and he would then start inviting them both to hang out as a trio rather than the separated duos they did before.

It would be a slow process for Ratchet and Wing to bond enough to pursue having any sort of romantic relationship. After all, Wing is still getting used to having Drift in his life, I don’t think he’d even think about seeing Ratchet that way for a while (the same goes for Ratchet too).

They would eventually get together, after a whole thing where both parties were hesitant to start a relationship (mostly in fear of ruining the good dynamic they already had), but Drift would knock some sense into them and they’d officially become a throuple.

Wing and Ratchet would have their fair share of squabbles, mostly for the same reasons Ratchet squabbles with Drift. They wouldn’t really argue, I think Wing would be hard to anger by loved ones, unless something really peeves him off. I think most of their petty arguments would be about Wing’s habits from the Circle, but also about Wing bugging Ratchet for a healthier lifestyle (the same way I imagine Drift would as well).

I like to imagine Wing with a mischievous streak as well, so I can definitely see him winding Ratchet up just to see him huff and puff. He’s good with reading people though, so he would only do so if he was 100% sure Ratchet would in a good enough mood for it, preventing lots of ‘could’ve-been’ arguments.

I don’t think their dynamic would be much different than dratchet’s really, after all Drift and Wing do have a lot in common. The only thing that would be different is the more hesitant affection they’d show each other at the beginning of their relationship, because of previous insecurities and doubt.

If, for whatever reason, Rung still lives, I think he and Wing would bond (but if it’s canonical, then obviously this isn’t possible). Other than that… I’m not quite sure honestly. I think it would be hard for him to integrate into the Lost Light, after all he is an outsider and everyone on bored is already trauma bonded. He’s a neutral as well, he didn’t experience war the way the others did, so he can’t bond over that.

Maybe Cyclonus? Not as like a close bond or anything, but having a shared experience of being an outsider (or previous outsider) because of their hesitance to choose sides might be a comforting encounter (even if Cyclonus was a previous sort-of Decepticon).

Hmmm, maybe having a habit of talking to Rewind for some of the same reasons as well, especially since both of them were thrust into similar yet different situations. Rewind found himself on another Lost Light after losing his own Chromedome, and Wing found himself with an alternate Drift after his own was killed. They both could bond (or at least have opening talks) over having to experience seeing their dead lovers, whilst also experiencing the oddity of their lovers expecting them to be someone they’re not, and the difficulties that comes with it.

About his relationship with Rodimus or the other friends he made (depending on your perception, not nessecarily canonical). Or how he was pursued by Ratchet who thought Drift was worth it? Worth chasing and reaching out to?

Or if Dai Atlas or any other members of the Circle of Light (if they had survived the whole Luna-I stuff), how would they have reacted to how much Drift had changed? From the mean and feral stray Decepticon Wing dragged home to the seemingly obedient and "harmless" 3rd in command and aid to a Prime? (Even if that Prime is Rodimus).

Do you have any thoughts on the Foreverquest version of Drift? Weither they explore 1 new universe or multiple, what about the other variants of Wing he could potentially meet? How comforting or hurtful would it be (for both Drift and the different versions of Wing).

I think that Wing would be proud of the person Drift became, to know that Drift stayed on the path of good for all of these years. I don’t think he’d be fond that Drift returned to the War efforts, but I don’t think he’d begrudge him or anything.

I do think that seeing Drift like this would make him a little sad, even if he hates himself for the thought. Like Drift’s happy on the Lost Light, with friends, but none of them are himself. It would pain him that Drift moved on, but also make him relieved at the same time (knowing that Drift wasn’t wallowing in guilt and sadness, that he wasn’t alone anymore).

As for his friends, I think he’d have mixed feelings about them, mostly about the way they turned against Drift so easily after the whole Overlord incident (though would they be considered ‘friends’ in the first place?) and about the way Drift act(ed)s around them.

Before his exile, Drift was 100% a people pleaser, he wanted people to like him and every action he did was an effort to atone for his past, and show people he was good. The main person who got this treatment was Rodimus.

I’m not sure how Wing would feel about Rodimus. I mean, he’s Drift’s best friend, supported him when many mistrusted him, defended him. But, at the same time, he also abandoned Drift (even though they did reconcile), and I think Wing would despise even the thought. Overall I think he’d like Rodimus, recognising the past is the past and as a whole being thankful for his support for Drift.

For Ratchet, Wing would absolutely like him. Ratchet was the one to bring Drift back to the Lost Light, the only one to still think he was worth bringing back. Wing would be thankful for the medic for loving Drift the way he deserved. He wouldn’t be jealous or sad or anything of the sort, Wing’s not that type of mecha. However, I do think he’d feel longing when looking at them, mourning something that he and Drift could have had. If Wing had the chance, he’d pull Ratchet to the side and thank him for making Drift happy.

Hmmmm, in terms of the Circle Of Light, I think they’d be relieved, oddly enough. Relieved that the Decepticon that Wing trusted so much didn’t turn out to be a traitor, and continued to follow a path of good. I think they’d appreciate the love and care Drift has for Wing’s sword, seeing it in safe hands. Again, I don’t think they’d particularly care about Drift serving under a Prime (Rodimus isn’t as well known as Optimus either, or put on as high of a pedestal), after all they did leave a war heavily influenced by Prime’s, but seeing a high-rank mecha trusting Drift so much would be a welcome shock. Seeing the complete 180 of Drift’s personality and demeanour would be a surprise as well, but a welcome one.

For Dai Atlas specifically, I think he’d feel the same (relived and such), but he’d also be saddened at the sight of Drift, mostly because his appearance and demeanour reminds him so much of Wing that it’s painful. Seeing him still following traditions of the Circle, and keeping Wing’s sword in close contact, would make him emotional I think, even if he wouldn’t show it. Drift and him would have a heart-to-heart (spark-to-spark?) conversation about Wing, after all he’d be the first person Drift has met since leaving who knew Wing personally.

Travelling to universes with alternate Wing’s would be a complicated subject for Drift, but I think that depends on which Wing he meets.

If he meets a Wing where his Drift died but Wing lived, I think it’d be a hurtful and confusing experience for both of them. That Wing would be relieved to see Drift in one shape, and Drift would be happy to see Wing again. But, because Drift would be with Ratchet, I think it’d be awkward for them both. Drift loves Ratchet, don’t get him wrong, but he can’t help the urge to comfort this other Wing, to kiss him, but he wouldn’t want to betray Ratchet. Wing wouldn’t know what to do with Drift, unwilling to cause a rift between his ex-lover and his Conjunx.

But, if Drift and Ratchet weren’t 100% exclusive, Drift and this Wing would probably have kissed and such, reuniting even though leaving would hurt more. They’d use this opportunity to have a proper goodbye, saying all of the things both of them regretted not saying previously, and coming out of it feeling a sense of final closure.

Seeing a universe where both Wing and Drift lived would hurt our Drift like no other. Seeing a universe of what-could-have-been, a universe without the pain or suffering he endured during his time in the Autobots (nor the pain of losing Wing) would break him a little inside. He’d feel guilty straight after, about yearning for a life where he never met his friends, never met Ratchet, but that longing would still be there. He’d also feel some comfort, knowing that, somewhere in the infinite universes, he and Wing had their happy ending, even if it wasn’t in his.

There is the possibility of meeting Shattered Glass!Wing, and that would cause some damage to Drift mentally. Seeing the mech he loved, someone who is kind and understanding, being this manipulative killer (the complete opposite) would throw him for a loop. SG!Wing wouldn’t diminish his feelings for Wing, but it would hurt Drift in ways he didn’t think possible. He’d need to recover mentally from the experience.

Wing taught Drift to love again, that love isn’t something filled with pain, it’s a beautiful thing that should be celebrated.

Dai Atlas convincing himself that Wing died thinking that he hated him (something that isn’t true at all), or at least thinking that he doesn’t forgive him for Drift yet, and feeling immense guilt and regret for it.

Dai Atlas mourning the lost time he could have had with Wing if he accepted Drift sooner, but now has to live with the regret forever.

Dai Atlas offering Drift a place in the Circle not for himself, but because he knew that Wing would have wanted it.

Dai Atlas offering Drift a place in the Circle (and wishing he would stay) because making up with Dirft/making him feel welcome was, in his mind, the only way to make him feel like he apologised to Wing, that he’s fixing their frayed relationship.

Dai Atlas wishing Drift would stay with the Circle because, after his reframing, Drift looked so much like Wing that for a short while, he could pretend that it was Wing in front of him, not Drift.

Dai Atlas also wishing Drift would never return to the Circle because seeing Wing’s lover (with a frame so much like Wing’s) would just make the pain and grief return again.

Like Wing would have probably had quite a fair share of suitors in the City (why wouldn’t he, just look at him!), most of which Dai Atlas would have approved of, or at least have been able to tolerate.

Then, one day, Wing comes home carrying a half-dead Decepticon who turns out to be slightly insane, and insists on helping said ‘con get better.

Dai Atlas then had to watch Wing and this feral Decepticon bond and see them slowly fall for one another. Mourning the loss of any good taste in mechs Wing was thought to have had. Wondering where he’d gone wrong for Wing to choose someone like Drift.

Wing getting thrown trustworthy and skilled mechs who wish to court him, only to choose the feral cat he’d found outside in the dirt…